Men's Basketball

Meet Branduinn Fullove

Nov 13, 2002

Nov. 13, 2002

Since the first time he put on a UCSB basketball uniform, Fullove has been one of the program's best all-around players. He has been a scorer, a rebounder and a playmaker. Nothing should change this year. Fullove will once again be expected to carry a major part of all three loads.

"I am more anxious than ever to start this season." Fullove says, after spending the off-season in Los Angeles rehabbing his ankle. Now the time and effort invested are going to pay off. Being back in Santa Barbara and be ing around all the players gets Fullove thinking about the great opportunity that the Gauchos will have to succeed in the Big West this season. "We are returning most of our players from last year's team, and I think the experience we gained is going to allow us to win some big games this year."

Fullove has earned honors in each of his seasons at UCSB. Two years ago, he was selected to the Big West's All-Freshman Team and Honorable Mention All-Big West. Last year, he earned Second Team All-Big West honors and he was chosen to the Big West All-Tournament Team after helping to lead the Gauchos to the title. In the three games at the tourney, Fullove averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. In fact, it was his key free throws in the waning seconds that iced the championship game victory over Utah State.

In his first two seasons, Fullove has scored 728 points in 55 games, an average of 13.2 points per game. Both the point total and the scoring average are the most ever for a Gaucho player entering his junior campaign. Former UCSB great Carrick DeHart scored 725 points in 59 games over his first two campaigns. Last year, Fullove became only the third Gaucho sophomore to score 400 or more points. With his 422 points, he joined Doug Rex (463) and Scott Fisher (406) as the only sophomore's to achieve the feat.

Another testament to his all-around ability and value to the Gauchos is that Fullove was the only player to record a point, rebound and assist in every game he played in last season.

Last season, the Gauchos shot 75.6% from the free throw line, the top mark in the Big West and the third highest percentage in school history. A major part of that 75.6% was the shooting of Fullove. He finished the year at 85.0%, tops on the team among players with 100 or more attempts. Fullove drained 96-of-113 from the charity stripe and hit 1.000% in 15 of his 30 games. His best single-game performance came in an important home victory over BYU when he went 10-for-10. Fullove also had streaks of 27 in a row and 26 in a row. In his two seasons, he has now made 192-of-229 free throw attempts, 83.8%, the top career mark in UCSB history and the seventh best career mark in Big West history.

As a sophomore, Fullove not only emerged as one of the top there-pointers on the Gaucho roster, but he also emerged as one of the best in the Big West. His 42.0% mark from beyond the arc was outstanding, but just as outstanding was his consistency. Fullove nailed at least one three-pointer in 24 of his 30 games and he had two or more 19 times. He made a career-high five three-pointers in home wins over Cal Poly and Idaho. In the game against Idaho, he made 5-of-6 and against the Mustangs he drilled 5-of-7 en route to a career-high 29 points. During one four-game stretch against Cal Poly, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and Cal State Fullerton, Fullove made 13-of-17 three-point attempts, 76.5% and after shooting 33.3% from three-point territory over the first six games of the season, he closed the year by making 44.4% over his final 24 appearances.

This yeah Fullove will be looking to do whatever it takes in order for UCSB to be at the top of the Big West and back in the tourney.